Reversible Shower Seat

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a reversible seat for use in a shower. The seat having an integral handle for moving the seat from a closed position to an open position and a means for retaining the seat in a closed position in either a standard orientation or reversed orientation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Present invention relates generally to seats used in showers by bathing persons, specifically persons not able to stand in the shower. The seat may be mounted in a shower stall where the use of the seat is optional. The seat may be moved a storage position when not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shower seats are designed for use and facilities to help persons who may have difficulties standing while bathing. Specifically, shower seats are described and specified by the Americans with disabilities act (ADA §610.3). The Americans with Disabilities Act specifies dimensions and capacities for shower seats meeting the requirements of the Act having both a rectangular shape and “L” shape.

Folding shower seats described in the prior art use braces extending upward or downward from the seat or to support the seat in a sitting position. One form of shower seat has an extendable leg for supporting the seat on the shower stall floor. Shower seats having support mechanisms such as braces or legs may be likely to injure the user coming in contact with the support. Furthermore, these supports may pose a hazard in a closed or stored position. Prior art shower seats may be formed of metal, plastic or wood.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a reversible shower seat that meets the ADA specifications and may be retained in a recessed position when not in use. The reversible shower seat adapted to accommodate left-hand or right hand use and to have an integral handle for opening or closing the shower seat. There is a need to provide a shower seat without external supports having sufficient load-bearing capacity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a reversible shower seat for use in a shower having a storage enclosure mounted in the wall. The storage enclosure mounted and supported in the wall having support members extending horizontally between wall supports. The support enclosure having a hinge receiver adjacent to a seat stop. The seat stop formed in a back wall of the support enclosure. The back wall surrounded by two sidewalls spaced from each other and each may be connected to a top wall and bottom wall. The top wall and bottom wall may be spaced from each other, generally parallel and extending between the two sidewalls to form an open-ended box for receiving the shower seat. Each of the sidewalls having means for holding the seat in the closed position which may be configured as a retainer receiving lock located at a predetermined height from the bottom wall adapted to releasably engage the reversible seat to hold it in the closed position. The lock may be a hole or recess in the sidewall to receive the retainer protruding from the side of the seat. Alternatively, the lock may protrude from the sidewall and releasably engage the retainer which may be a hole or indentation disposed in the side of the seat.

The reversible shower seat may have an “L” shaped sitting portion, a hinge on a long end of the “L” shaped seat and a retainer on each of two sides. The hinge adapted to engage the hinge receiver on the support enclosure. The “L” shaped seat may further have a back edge adjacent the hinge and a first and second front edge defining the “L” shape. The first side having a long sidewall adjacent the first front edge, the second side having a short sidewall adjacent the second front edge, Each retainer spaced a predetermined distance from the hinge. Each retainer adapted to releasably engage the lock on the sidewalls of the enclosure.

The “L” shaped seat may further comprise a short seat portion and a long seat portion. The long seat portion adjacent the first sidewall, the short seat portion adjacent the second sidewall. The short seat portion connected to the long seat portion to form the “L” shaped seat. The long seat portion extending to the first front edge. The seat portion may extend to the second front edge. A handle on the long seat portion extending between the first outer edge and the second outer edge. A handle formed on the reversible “L” shaped seat for use in moving the “L” shaped seat between an open and closed position.

The above description sets forth, rather broadly, the more important features of the present invention so that the detailed description of the preferred embodiment that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in a standard orientation.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the invention in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an open position.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 taken at approximately 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of a first alternate embodiment of the invention in a closed position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the first alternate embodiment of the invention in an open position.

FIG. 8 is a section view taken at approximately 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises an intensive use furniture component configured as an “L” shaped shower seat generally indicated by reference number 10. The “L” shaped shower seat 10 comprises an open box shaped, flanged enclosure 12 having a back wall 14 surrounded by a top wall 16, a pair of sidewalls 18, and a bottom wall 22. The back wall 14 attached to the top wall 16 and bottom wall 22. The top wall 16 and the bottom wall 22 spaced from each other and generally parallel to each other. The sidewalls 18, 20 each connected to the back wall 14 and extending from the top wall 16 to the bottom wall 22 in a generally parallel orientation to each other and generally perpendicular to each of the top wall 16 and the bottom wall 22. The sidewalls 18, 20 may be spaced from each other to form an open box shaped enclosure 12.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the shower seat 10 further comprises a reversible “L” shaped seat 24 having a back edge 26, a first side 28, a second side 30, a first front edge 32, a second front edge 34, a top 36, and a hinge 38. The first side 28 attached to the top 36, back edge 26, and the first front edge 32. The second side 30 attached to top 36, back edge 26 and second front edge 34. Second side 30 may be generally held in spaced relation and parallel to first side 28. “L” shaped seat 24 may further comprise a handle 39 and a retainer 40. The handle 39 may be spaced from first and second sidewalls 28, 30. The handle 39 may be attached to the first front edge 32 and second front edge 34. Handle 39 may further comprise a top finger grip 41 on the top 36.

Referring to FIG. 2, the hinge 38 may be adjacent to but spaced from the back edge 26, the hinge 38 extending from each of the first and second sides 28, 30 to engage mating respective hinge receivers 43 on each of the sidewalls 18, 20 whereby the back edge 26 is adapted to engage a stop surface 44 on the enclosure 12 when the “L” shaped seat 24 is pivoted into an open position as shown in FIG. 1. The stop surface 44 is adapted to engage the back edge 26 to limit pivoting about the hinge 38 for holding the top 36 in a generally horizontal orientation. A reversible means for retaining the seat may comprise a retainer 40 on each of the first and second sides 28, 30. Each retainer 40 positioned a predetermined distance from the hinge and adapted to engage a respective lock 42 on the enclosure 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, hinge receiver 43 is adapted to pivotally receive hinge 38 to allow seat 24 to pivot about hinge 38 from an open position 25 (FIG. 1,2) whereby seat 24 is generally horizontal to a closed position 55 having the seat 24 in a generally vertical orientation and generally parallel to back wall 14. The reversible means for holding the seat in the closed position 55 may comprise a plurality of retainers 40 on the seat and a mating lock 42 positioned a predetermined distance ‘a’ from hinge 38, when hinge 38 is pivotally engaged in hinge receiver 43. Retainer 40 releasably engages the respective lock 42 in the adjacent sidewall 18, 20 to hold the seat 24 in the closed position 55. it should be understood, the distance ‘a’ from hinge 38 to retainer 40 and mating lock 42 is less than the length from hinge 38 to short second front edge 32 making the means for retaining the seat 24 in the closed position 55 reversible. It should be understood, distance ‘a’ is less than a length of the shorter, second side, whereby the seat is reversible.

Referring to FIG. 4, seat 24 extends outward from enclosure 12 having top 36 in a generally horizontal sitting position. The hinge receiver 43 may be positioned in spaced relation to the bottom wall 22 and adapted to allow the “L” shaped seat 24 to pivot about the hinge 38. Enclosure 12 further comprises a flange 60 extending outward from a seat opening 62. Flange 60 may be generally perpendicular to top wall 16, the two sidewalls 18, 20 and bottom wall 22. Flange 60 may be generally parallel to back wall 14. The seat opening 62 may be surrounded by flange 60, top wall 16 connected to two sidewalls 18, 20 and bottom wall 22 connected to sidewalls 18, 20. The seat opening 62 may be spaced from back wall 14 to form a pocket to provide recessed storage of the reversible “L” shaped seat 24 in the closed position.

Referring to FIG. 5, “L” shaped seat 24 may further comprise a bottom 46 on the first and second sidewalls 18, 20. The bottom 46 may further be attached to the first front edge 32 and second front edge 34. “L” shaped seat 24 may further comprise a plurality of “C” shaped struts 48 mounted between top 36 and bottom 46 to hold top 36 and bottom 46 in spaced relation. Struts 48 are attached by welding or other means to either the top 36 or bottom 46. Likewise, top 36 and bottom 46 are attached by welding or other means to sides 18, 20. Struts 48 comprise a top member 50, first vertical member 52 and second vertical member 54. Top member 50 is generally parallel to and bears against top 36.

Referring to FIG. 6, seat 24 may be reversed with respect to enclosure 12 having first edge 28 adjacent second sidewall 20 and second edge 30 adjacent first sidewall 18. In this reversed orientation, the bottom 46 is adjacent back wall 16 when in the closed position 55. Seat stop 70 extends between and may connect to sidewalls 18, 20. Seat 24 further may comprise a bottom finger grip 64 (FIG. 6) on bottom 46. Retainers 40 and the respective locks 42 are positioned to retain seat 24 in the closed position 55 when reversed. Top finger grip 41 faces outward from enclosure 12 and bottom finger grip 64 (FIG. 5) is adjacent back wall 14. Seat stop 70 is formed in back wall 14 and is generally parallel to top wall 16. Seat stop 70 is adapted to engage top 36 adjacent back edge 26 when seat 24 is in the open position.

Referring to FIG. 7, reversible “L” shaped seat 24 may be attached to enclosure 12 at hinge 38 having the first side 18 adjacent second sidewall 20. As should be understood, in this reversed orientation, bottom 46 is positioned upward in the seating position. Seat 24 extends from seat opening 62, hinge 38 engages enclosure 12 to pivotally support seat 24. Back edge 26 bears against seat stop 70 to hold seat 24 in a generally horizontal position. Retainer 40 protrudes slightly from first edge 28 and second edge 30. Each hinge receiver 43 is positioned approximately an equidistant from bottom wall 22 to hold seat 24 in a generally horizontal orientation 25.

Referring to FIG. 8, hinge receiver 43 on enclosure 12 is adapted to matingly receive hinge 38. Seat retainer 40 on each sidewall 18 is positioned a first predetermined distance ‘a’ (FIG. 3) from the hinge receiver 43 to receive the respective retainer 40. Seat stop 70 formed in back wall 14 may be adjacent hinge receiver 43 to engage seat 24 adjacent back edge 26 to support seat 24 in a generally horizontal position in the open position 25 (FIG. 7). Wall supports 82, 84 are attached to the back wall 14 of enclosure 12 to provide attachment means for mounting enclosure 12. Lower strut 84 may be disposed on seat stop 70 for support. Hinge receiver 43 may be spaced from back wall 14 to hold seat 24 in the pocket formed by seat opening 62 in the generally vertical orientation in the closed position 55. Seat stop 70 extending in a generally perpendicular orientation from back wall 14 forming a pivot opening 72 in enclosure 12. Seat stop 70 is connected to bottom wall 22 by extension 74

Due to the intensive-use nature of the reversible shower seat 10 the enclosure 12 may be formed of a durable plastic or metal having a corrosion resistant finish. Seat 24 may likewise be formed of sheet metal or plastic selected to support the required weight and resist corrosion.

Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given. Further, the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing exemplary embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that other forms, details, and embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined in the following claims. 

1. A reversible shower seat for use in a shower stall comprising: an enclosure having a back wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, the first and second sidewalls on the back wall and spaced from each other, a hinge receiver formed in each of the two sidewalls; a seat comprising a top, a bottom, a hinge, a back edge, a first front edge, a second front edge and a first sitting portion, the first sitting portion on the top, the hinge on the seat adjacent the back edge, the hinge movably connected to the hinge receiver, the hinge between the back edge and the first front edge; and a handle on the seat, the handle between the first front edge and the second front edge.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the seat further comprises a first retainer, a first side and a second side, the first retainer on the first side, the enclosure further comprising a first lock on the first sidewall, and a second lock on the second sidewall, one of the first lock or second lock adapted to matingly and releasably receive the first retainer when the seat is in a closed position.
 3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a top finger grip on the top.
 4. The invention of claim 3, wherein the seat further comprises a second sitting portion on the bottom, the handle further comprising a bottom finger grip on the bottom.
 5. The invention of claim 2, wherein the enclosure further comprises a second retainer on the second side, the second retainer disposed to matingly receive one of the first or second locks in the sidewalls of the enclosure.
 6. The invention of claim 1, further comprising a first lock on the first sidewall and a first retainer and second retainer on the seat, the first retainer on a first side of the seat, the second retainer on a second side of the seat, the first lock adapted to matingly and removably receive one of the first retainer or second retainer when the seat is in a closed position.
 7. The invention of claim 2, further comprising a second retainer on the second side spaced a first distance from the hinge, the other of the first lock or second lock adapted to matingly and releasably receive the second retainer.
 8. The invention of claim 2 wherein the bottom further comprises a second sitting portion between the first side and the second side, whereby the seat is reversible.
 9. The invention of claim 8, wherein, the seat further comprises a second retainer on the second side, the second retainer disposed to matingly receive one of the first or second locks in the sidewalls of the enclosure, each of the first and second locks disposed a predetermined distance from the hinge, the second retainer spaced the first distance from the hinge.
 10. The invention of claim 9, wherein the handle further comprising a top finger grip on seat top and a bottom finger grip on the bottom.
 11. A reversible shower seat for use in a shower stall, the shower seat having a reversible “L” shaped seat pivotally mounted in an enclosure comprising an open box enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, an open front and two sidewalls, the top wall on the back wall, the bottom wall on the back wall and spaced from the top wall, the two sidewalls on the back wall, spaced from each other, the top wall, bottom wall, and two sidewalls defining a seat opening adjacent the back wall, the reversible “L” shaped seat comprising a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a first front edge, a second front edge and a back edge, the first and second side on the back edge, the first front edge on the first side, the second front edge on the second side, the first front edge spaced from and generally parallel to the second front edge, the top on the back edge and the first and second front edges, the bottom on the back edge spaced from the top, the bottom further on the first and second front edges spaced from the top the reversible shower seat comprising: a means for holding the seat in a closed position on the enclosure; a means for holding the seat in an open position having the top oriented in a generally horizontal position, the means for holding the seat in the open position on the enclosure; a hinge on the reversible “L” shaped seat adjacent the back edge, the hinge pivotally connected to the enclosure; and a handle on the reversible “L” shaped seat intermediate first side and the second side, the handle on the first front edge and extending to the second front edge.
 12. The invention of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of supports in the seat intermediate the top and bottom.
 13. The invention of claim 11, wherein the means for holding the seat in the closed position further comprises a plurality of locks in the enclosure, a retainer on one of the first side or second side of the seat, the retainer disposed to releasably engage one of the plurality of locks to hold the seat in the closed position
 14. The invention of claim 13, wherein the means for holding the seat in the closed position further comprises a plurality of retainers in the seat, at least one of the plurality of retainers adapted to engage at least one of the plurality of the locks in the closed position wherein the seat is held in a generally vertical orientation.
 15. The invention of claim 11, wherein the means for holding the seat in the closed position is reversible.
 16. The invention of claimed 12, wherein one of the top or the bottom is formed of metal, the supports having a top member welded to one of the top or bottom.
 17. The invention of claim 11, wherein the means for holding the seat in the closed position further comprises a first retainer on the first side extending away from the seat, a second retainer on the second side, a lock on each sidewall, the first and second retainer positioned a first distance from the hinge, each lock positioned a second distance from the hinge receiver, the first and second distances being predetermined to matingly engage a one of the first and second retainers in a respective lock when the reversible “L” shaped seat is pivotally moved about the hinge from the generally horizontal, open position, to the generally vertical, closed position having the top or the bottom of the seat adjacent the back wall.
 18. The invention of claim 11, wherein the handle further comprises a top finger grip on the top and a bottom finger grip on the bottom.
 19. The invention of claim 11 wherein the means for holding the seat in the closed position further comprises a lock on the enclosure, the lock on one of the two sidewalls, the lock adapted to releasably engage the seat in the closed position.
 20. A shower seat for use in a shower stall comprising: a flanged enclosure having a back wall surrounded by a top wall, a pair of sidewalls and a bottom wall, the back wall on the top wall and bottom wall, the top wall and the bottom wall spaced from each other, the sidewalls each extending from the top wall to the bottom wall the sidewalls spaced from each other, a plurality of seat locks on the enclosure; a reversible “L” shaped seat having a back edge, a first side, a second side, a first front edge, a second front edge, a top and a bottom, the first side on the back edge and the first front edge, the second side on the back edge in spaced relation and generally parallel to the first side, the second side also on the second front edge, the top on the first side and second side, the bottom on the first side and the second side, the top held in spaced relation to the bottom, a retainer on each of the first and second side; a hinge on the seat, the hinge pivotally attached to the enclosure, a retainer on the seat, the retainer adapted to engage a respective one of the plurality of locks on the enclosure, whereby the retainer releasably holds the seat in the closed position; and a handle intermediate the first side and the second side, the handle on the first front edge and extending to the second front edge. 